Dora the Explorer is an animated preschool series created by Nickelodeon Animation Studios for Nick Jr. The idea of the show was created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Valdes, and Eric Weiner. It first aired in 2000, making one the longest-running series on Nickelodeon and the longest-running preschool series on the network.
Dora the Explorer focuses on the titular character, Dora along with her monkey friend Boots who loves embarking on quests and solving puzzles along with way.
Some recurring obstacles include Swiper the Fox who is always stealing items from the heroes and the Grumpy Old Troll who always blocks the bridge.
Like SpongeBob, Dora became one of ViacomCBS's biggest properties through toys, books, and video games.
Characters[]
Main Cast[]
- Dora Marquez, voiced by Katheleen Herles (Seasons 1-4), Caitlin Sanchez (Seasons 5-6), Fátima Ptacek (Seasons 6-8)
- Boots, voiced by Harrison Chad (Seasons 1-4), Regan Mizrahi (Seasons 5-7), Koda Gursoy (Season 8)
- Backpack, voiced by Sasha Toro (Seasons 1-4), Alexandria Suarez (Seasons 5-7), Sofia Lopez (Season 8)
- Map, voiced by Marc Weiner
- Swiper, voiced by Marc Weiner
Recurring Characters[]
- Isa
- Tico
- Benny
- Diego
- Big Red Chicken
- Grumpy Old Troll
- Abuela
- Mrs. Marquez (Elena)
- Mr. Marquez (Cole)
Plot[]
A seven-year-old Latina explorer named Dora and her best friend, Boots the monkey, embark on many adventures in all kinds of places.
Episodes[]
| Season | Episodes | First aired (original) | Last aired (original) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | June 12, 1999 | ||
| 1 | 26 | August 14, 2000 | March 4, 2002 |
| 2 | 26 | February 13, 2002 | December 3, 2007 |
| 3 | 25 | February 24, 2003 | January 16, 2006 |
| 4 | 24 | October 6, 2003 | March 21, 2010 |
| 5 | 20 | September 15, 2008 | November 18, 2010 |
| 6 | 18 | November 5, 2010 | November 5, 2012 |
| 7 | 19 | February 2, 2012 | March 10, 2014 |
| 8 | 19 | March 18, 2013 | August 9, 2019 |
Development[]
The show was developed out of Nickelodeon's desire to "come up with the next big hit" similar to the network's other hit preschool shows at the time Little Bear and Blue's Clues. The creators sought to combine both shows format, with the narrative focus of Little Bear combined with the interactivity of Blue's Clues. The creators further developed the concept by observing preschoolers with the creators coming to the conclusion that "they are little explorers."
Dora is a Latina. According to a Nickelodeon spokesman, "she was developed to be pan-Latina to represent the diversity of Latino cultures". Initially the character was not planned to be Latina although after an executive at Nickelodeon attended a conference about the lack of Latino representation, the creators were asked if they could include such elements. At first there was hesitancy, but eventually they realized that they had "a great opportunity" and the character was designed as such. Nickelodeon at first did not like the antagonist Swiper, at first with researchers stating that "he was bad modeling and unsettling to kids"; however, the creators felt strongly about the inclusion of a villainous character and he remained in the final show.
On March 8, 2009, Mattel and Nickelodeon announced that Dora will receive a tweenage makeover, switching from a young age to a teenage attending middle school. Initially, it was announced that the new look would not be revealed until late 2009, but after a short controversy, the tween Dora was unveiled on March 16, 2009.
In 2012, a CGI opening was created for new episodes of the series.
Dora's Explorer Girls[]
In 2009, Mattel and Nickelodeon introduced a preteen version of Dora, with four friends named Naiya, Kate, Emma, and Alana, who call themselves the Explorer Girls. The Explorer Girls were included in the Dora and Friends spin-off in 2014.
Trivia[]
- The eighth season took six years to air all 19 episodes, lasting from March 18, 2013 to August 9, 2019. This is the longest time a single Nick Jr. show's season has lasted on the main Nickelodeon channel.
External Links[]
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